Panchayats will be entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring pure water in every household, social audit will be conducted.

Raipur, July 10, 2026: An important meeting was held today at the Ministry (Mahanadi Bhawan) regarding the long-term sustainability and smooth operation of rural drinking water schemes in Chhattisgarh. Chaired by Chief Secretary Vikassheel, the meeting comprehensively discussed the Operation and Maintenance Policy under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 with officials from the Public Health Engineering Department and Chhattisgarh Jal Jeevan Mission, and issued necessary guidelines.

The system will be transferred to the Panchayats

In the meeting, the Chief Secretary directed that all tap water schemes constructed in the state be successfully operated in accordance with government-prescribed standards. He said that a comprehensive strategy should be developed to ensure that all rural households receive clean tap water daily. The institutional management of drinking water schemes will be completely transferred to gram panchayats, for which they will be provided with all necessary support. These schemes will be maintained through village water and sanitation committees, ensuring public participation.

Social audit and discussion in Gram Sabhas are mandatory

To ensure transparency and quality, the Chief Secretary issued strict instructions to officials to conduct social audits to verify the proper operation of the schemes and the supply of quality drinking water. Additionally, the Gram Sabha in each village must ensure that the issue of drinking water supply under the Jal Jeevan Mission is discussed.

Considerations on water meter installation and financial management

During the meeting, several key points for the long-term implementation of the scheme were discussed in detail. Budget management for the maintenance of the schemes and appropriate water tariffs were discussed. The installation of water meters, as per future budget provisions, was also discussed to reduce water wastage and generate better revenue. Officials provided detailed information on assessing drinking water quality, monitoring systems at various levels, compliance, and community participation audits.

At the meeting, Mr. Mohammad Qaiser Abdulhaq, Secretary of the Public Health Engineering Department, gave a detailed presentation on the draft Jal Jeevan Mission Chhattisgarh policy and its various aspects. Present at this high-level meeting were Mr. Bhim Singh, Secretary of the Panchayat and Rural Development Department, along with senior officials from Jal Jeevan Mission, PHE, and other related departments.